Private Security Officer

Selection, Training
and Licensing Guidelines
This document was prepared by the Private-Sector Liaison Committee
(PLSC) of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The
opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this
document do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the
IACP or any of the organizations that participated in the development of
these guidelines (National Sheriffs Association, National Association of
Security Companies, American Society for Industrial Security, National
Association of Security and Investigator Regulators).

This publication is made with the understanding that the distributing organiza-
tion is not engaged in rendering legal services.
If legal advice is required, the services of an attorney should be sought.

This document has not been copyrighted. Complete or partial reproduction

is encouraged as long as it:
A. Is not done for profit;
B. Does not alter the tone or substance of the recommendations;
C. Advances the goal of improving the standards for private security
officers in a manner compatible with the needs of those they serve, in
cooperation and partnership with law enforcement.
D. Groups or agencies that reproduce this document can use the above
space for logos.

International Association
of Chiefs of Police
515 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703/836-6767
Fax: 703-836-4543
www.theiacp.org
 Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Qualifications and Selection Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Licenses and Certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Training Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES 3

 Introduction

F
or the last decade, the Private-Sector Liaison Still, it is intended that initiatives developed from
Committee (PSLC) of the International use of these guidelines apply generally to contract
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has and proprietary security officers. In the end, quality
worked to build lines of communication and assurance for both employee groups is the most criti-
cooperation with the private sector. Areas of coopera- cal element for public safety.
tive efforts have included the development of guide- These guidelines are not designed to address all
lines and protocols on a variety of issues ranging from aspects of hiring and training security personnel.
product-tampering threat cases to combating violence They are the considered effort of a wide range of
in the workplace to high-tech crimes. professionals from both sectors. As guidelines, they
This document was prepared as a set of guidelines come at a time when growing media and public
for meaningful security officer standards in the areas focus is centered on high-profile events that reflect
of private security and public safety. In the past two negatively on security personnel. This unfavorable
decades, the number of non-sworn security officers attention is seldom balanced against the reality that
has grown dramatically. Presently, there are more each day hundreds of thousands of security officers
than twice as many private security officers as there provide effective and valued protection to tens of
are commissioned police personnel. millions of citizens and billions of dollars in assets in
Contract security companies employ the largest a wide range of venues.
group of these private security personnel. However, Regulatory requirements vary widely in the vast
some corporations, colleges or universities, and units majority of states; and a significant number of states
of government elect to provide for their own protec- have no uniform state-wide regulation of security
tive services with proprietary security units. This is services. Although as many as 90 percent of private
accomplished either on an exclusive basis or in com- security personnel are not armed, their uniforms and
bination with contract security officers. These guide- assignments place them in a wide range of positions
lines have been drafted to apply to both contract and which call for the use of authority on the property
proprietary security operations. It is understood that they protect. To the degree that they protect citizens
individual states may elect to address standards for in public places or work sites, citizens have the right
these two groups differently in such areas as individ- to expect that these employees will be properly
ual licensing, certification or accreditation. screened, hired, trained and supervised. To assist in
this effort, these guidelines are offered.

4 PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES

 Qualifications and Selection Criteria
All private security officers must meet the applicable 4. Declared by any court to be incompetent by
statutory requirements and the established criteria of reason of mental disease or defect that has
the employer, which may exceed minimum mandat- not been removed or expunged.
ed requirements. Federal law mandates that candi- E. Submit two sets of classifiable fingerprints and
dates for employment must be citizens or possess two passport-sized photographs, along with
legal alien status prior to employment. All applicants applicant’s name, address, date of birth, social
who are hired or certified as a private security officer security number, citizenship status, and a state-
should meet the following minimum criteria: ment of conviction of crimes in order to con-
A. Be at least 18 years of age—“unarmed” private duct a state criminal record check, and a FBI
security officer. criminal history check, prior to permanent
B. Be at least 21 years of age—“armed” private employment as a private security officer. In all
security officer and comply with U.S. Public instances, these actions must be taken prior to
Law 104-208 Section 658 (The Omnibus the private security officer’s being armed;
Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997). F. Furnish information about all prior employ-
C. Possess a valid state driver’s license (if applica- ment through the employer making a reason-
ble). able effort to verify the last seven years of
D. Not have been: employment history, and checking three per-
1. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere sonal references; and
to a felony in any jurisdiction; G. Successfully pass a recognized pre-employment
2. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere drug screen.
to a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, Suggested non-regulated pre-employment appli-
acts of dishonesty or acts against governmen- cant criteria include the following:
tal authority, including the use and/or pos- A. High School education or equivalent;
session of a controlled substance within a B. Military discharge records (DD 214);
seven-year period; C. Mental and physical capacity to perform duties
3. Convicted or pled guilty or nolo contendere for which being employed;
to any crime in any jurisdiction involving the D. Armed applicants shall successfully complete a
sale, delivery, or manufacture of a controlled relevant psychological evaluation to verify that
substance; or the applicant is suited for duties for which
being employed.

Commentary

There is genuine potential for security employees and police officers or sheriffs’ deputies to be simultane-
ously involved in an active crime scene. It is for this reason, as well as the need to ensure that private-security
personnel are capable of making good decisions in the field, that great care must be exercised in their recruit-
ment and selection.
A second and equally important consideration is that these private-security officers possess high-quality
ethical standards since they will be entrusted to safeguard the persons, homes, and businesses of their com-
munities.

PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES 5

 Licenses and Certifications
Types of Licenses or Certifications for Additional Requirements for Class II and
Private Security Officers Class III Licenses or Certification
These guidelines establish the following types of In addition to meeting the minimum require-
license or certification classifications: ments for a Class I License, an applicant for a Class
• Class I—Security Officer/Unarmed Alarm II and Class III License or Certification shall:
Responder 1. Be at least 21 years of age;
• Class II—Armed Security Officer/Armed Alarm 2. Submit a statement by a state-recognized
Responder firearms instructor verifying that the firearms
• Class III—Armored Car Security Officer training and range qualification requirements of
these guidelines have been completed;
Temporary Security Officer Permit 3. Pass an annual range qualification test as certi-
fied by a state-recognized firearms instructor.
1. An employer may issue a temporary security
officer permit to a person meeting the qualifica- License Renewal
tions and selection criteria, provided the
employer has submitted to the state licensing Licenses should be renewed every two years.
and certification agency the application required It is recognized that security officers who have
for a registration permit, including the state- been licensed or issued a permit can commit crimes
ment from a certified trainer verifying comple- without their employer or state regulators’ knowing
tion of the pre-assignment training of these events. Accordingly, there should exist a pro-
requirements. cedure that requires regulators to conduct appropri-
2. Under no circumstances may the holder of a ate state and/or national records checks of security
temporary permit carry a firearm. personnel at the time of license/permit renewal.
If the person involved has continued to work and
reside in the same state, a state records check may
well be sufficient. This will reduce the risk that a
licensee could commit crimes without the employer
or regulatory authority’s knowing of them at the
time of renewal.

Commentary

One of the more vexing problems associated with licensing, certifying, or registering security officers is the
amount of time required. In an industry that has historically experienced high turnover, each processing step
needs to be handled with accuracy and timeliness. Failure to streamline each aspect of the selection and
approval process has led to instances of abuse of the temporary permit concept. It will be critical for all
involved parties from both sectors to cooperate in the shared use of technological advancements that are
being implemented at the federal and state levels. This cooperation and coordination are critical to quality
assurance being associated with the fielding of security officers in our private facilities and public areas.

6 PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES

 Training Considerations
The following are recommended: b. Armed security officers
A. Minimum basic training requirements and rele- c. Unarmed non-sworn alarm responder
vant, continuous in-service training for private d. Armed non-sworn alarm responder
security officers should be required. A formal e. Armored car guard
mechanism to establish curriculum require- 2. Security officers’ training needs will be
ments and hours of training should be estab- addressed in large part under these topic
lished. areas as appropriate:
B. All private security officer training should be a. Legal
reviewed and approved for certification by a b. Operational
state regulatory agency. Instructors will also be c. Firearms
certified by the state regulatory agency. All d. Administrative
training will be validated by approved testing e. Electronic
criteria. f. Armored transport
C. Private security officer basic or in-service train- g. Use of force
ing should include the following elements D. Due to the varied nature of security tasks and
based upon needs analysis related to job func- duties along with the proper training for each,
tion: the demands for each specific setting should be
1. Security officers fall into one or more of assessed for the level of training certification to
these categories based upon their job func- build public trust and confidence.
tion:
a. Unarmed security officers

Commentary

If there has been any one element of policing that has produced the recognized quality of personal per-
formance by today’s officers and deputies, it has been the advent of recognized professional selection/training
standards beginning in the early 1970s. This was the cornerstone that has brought policing to being a genuine
profession. The same approach can apply to the security officer position. There is every reason to believe that
with proper employment screening, coupled with meaningful training and responsible supervision, security
officers can earn the respect of communities and law enforcement. If there is anything that will calm those
who would be critical, it is the careful administration of statutorily required employment/training standards
for all licensed or certified private security officers.
It has been with the welfare of security officers, their employers, and the general public in mind that the
above guidelines were developed. The use of these guidelines by all interests having responsibility for or a
financial interest in the provision of security officer services can be a foundation from which to draft state
legislation or improve existing practices/statutes. An approach that has been helpful in policing in its profes-
sional growth has been the use of advisory boards, committees, councils, or commissions. Use of such advi-
sory bodies should be applied in the development/maintenance of security officer standards. Active
participation by a wide range of stakeholders also produces the best chances for compliance as well as measur-
able results. The inclusive spirit of the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies is a
proven model for the security industry.

PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES 7

 Conclusion
The Private-Sector Liaison Committee, in concert with representatives of the National Sheriffs’ Association, the
National Association of Security Companies, the National Association of Security and Investigator Regulators
and the American Society for Industrial Security, has worked to provide these guidelines. The members of this
coalition now hope their production will be both useful for further security industry progress and a point of
departure for those states operating without regulation of this important area of protective services.

8 PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES

 Acknowledgements
The following individuals and organizations contributed to the drafting, preparation, and review of this docu-
ment.

Marene N. Allison *Weldon L. Kennedy

Vice President Loss Prevention Vice Chairman-Group Executive
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company Guardsmark, Inc.

Richard J. Barry Michael Martin

Executive Vice President Technical Support Specialist/Assistant to Chief of
First Security Services Corporation Staff
IACP
Ernest C. Blount
Vice President, Public Services Division Theresa Martin
The Wackenhut Corporation Captain, Private Security Manager
Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and
Michael D. Brasfield Training
Chief of Police
Fort Lauderdale, FL, Police Department Clifford J. Maurer
Manager of Security & Investigations
James L. Brodie Carter-Wallace, Inc.
Director Public Safety (Ret.)
John M. McNamara
James J. Emerson Director, Loss Prevention
Lieutenant Colonel J.C. Penney Company
U.S. Marine Corps
#Harlin R. McEwen
Michael D. Gambrill Deputy Assistant Director
Vice President of Operations Federal Bureau of Investigation
Dunbar Armored, Inc.
Richard L. Moe
L. Earle Graham Executive Vice President
Vice President The Interpro Group
Westec Security, Inc.
John A. Nickols
Hobart M. Henson Bureau Chief, Security and Investigation Services
Director, National Center State & Local Training California Department of Consumer Affairs
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
Edward D. O’Brien
Marvin L. Herrington Director, Corporate Security
Director of Public Safety Champion International Corp.
Stanford University
Roberet L. Ohm
S.T. (Steve) Hess Vice President Eastern Region
Manager, Police Academy Westec Home Security
Justice Institute of British Columbia
Bruce Prunk
Charles Houper Assistant Chief
Sheriff Portland, OR, Police Bureau
Chemung County, NY, Sheriff ’s Office

PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES 9

Joseph Ricci
Director
American Society for Industrial Security

Thomas M. Seamon
Managing Director, Division of Public Safety
University of Pennsylvania

**Michael G. Shanahan
Chief of Police (Ret)
University of Washington

Gail M. Simonton
Executive Director & General Counsel
National Association of Security Companies

Katherine P. Spivey
Editorial Assistant/Publications
IACP

Thomas J. Sweeney
Chief of Police
Bridgeport, CT, Police Department

John E. Tomlinson
Deputy Assistant Director
U.S. Secret Service

Harold Wankel
Vice President Patrol Services
Protection One

Thomas W. Wathen
Chairman of the Board
Pinkerton Security and Investigation Services

*Co-Chair, Security Officer Guidelines Sub-Committee

**Co-Chair, Private Sector Liaison Committee
#Special Advisor

10 PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES

 International Association of Chiefs of Police
515 N. Washington St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703/836-6767
Fax: 703-836-4543
www.theiacp.org

PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICER SELECTION, TRAINING AND LICENSING GUIDELINES 11